Micro touch pen structure including pen core with stop portion that moves together with magnetic unit when pressure is applied to movable portion of pen core

ABSTRACT

A micro touch pen structure includes a casing unit, a circuit unit, a first electromagnetic unit, a pen core unit, a second electromagnetic unit and an elastic unit. The circuit unit is disposed inside the pen-shaped casing structure. The first electromagnetic unit includes a first hollow electromagnetic body inside the pen-shaped casing structure and an electromagnetic coil wound around the first hollow electromagnetic body and electrically connected to the circuit unit. The pen core unit includes a first movable portion passing through the first hollow electromagnetic body, a second movable portion partially exposed from the pen-shaped casing structure, and a stop portion connected between the first and the second movable portions. The second electromagnetic unit includes a second hollowing electromagnetic body fixed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and disposed around the first movable portion. The elastic unit is disposed between the first movable portion and a fixed structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The instant disclosure relates to a micro touch pen structure, and moreparticularly to a micro touch pen structure having a stopper forstopping or retaining an electromagnet.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional touch control devices may be classified into three types:resistive, electromagnetic and capacitive. Operation with a resistivetouch control device requires a rigid pen tip to apply a significantforce on the resistive touch control device in a very small area toaccomplish deformation of the resistive touch sensor, and anelectromagnetic touch control device requires a special battery poweredpen for input; while the working principle of a capacitive touch controldevice relies on capacitive coupling, which takes place as soon as thecapacitive touch sensor is touched by a conductive object, and the touchposition can then be identified according to the variation incapacitance at the touch point. Therefore, a capacitive touch controldevice does not require an input pen that consumes electricity. Nor isit necessary to subject a capacitive touch sensor to concentratedpressure application for deformation, and thus a capacitive touchcontrol device has a longer service life. Furthermore, mass productionof capacitive touch control devices requires lower costs due to itssimple construction, less components and higher yield rate.

A capacitive touch control device can be operated in many ways. The mostcommon of all is using a conductor, for example a finger or a pen, totouch or slide on the surface of the capacitive touch control device,for the capacitive touch sensor thereof to generate a response signal.However, as capacitive touch control devices find more and moreapplications, the lower precision on position detection tends to hindersmoothness of operation where more precise and more efficient detectionis required, such as in handheld devices. In order to enable enhancedprecision on position detection, many people choose to use pens forcapacitive touch input.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the instant disclosure relates to a micro touch penstructure having a stopper for stopping or retaining an electromagnet.

One of the embodiments of the instant disclosure provides a micro touchpen structure, comprising: a casing unit, a circuit unit, a firstelectromagnetic unit, a pen core unit, a second electromagnetic unit andan elastic unit. The casing unit includes a pen-shaped casing structure.The circuit unit is disposed inside the pen-shaped casing structure. Thefirst electromagnetic unit is fixed inside the pen-shaped casingstructure and electrically connected to the circuit unit, wherein thefirst electromagnetic unit includes a first hollow electromagnetic bodyfixed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and at least oneelectromagnetic coil wound around the first hollow electromagnetic bodyand electrically connected to the circuit unit. The pen core unit ismovably disposed inside pen-shaped casing structure, wherein the pencore unit includes a first movable portion passing through the firsthollow electromagnetic body, a second movable portion partially exposedfrom the pen-shaped casing structure, and a stop portion connectedbetween the first movable portion and the second movable portion. Thesecond electromagnetic unit includes a second hollowing electromagneticbody fixed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and disposed aroundthe first movable portion, wherein the second hollowing electromagneticbody is abutted against the stop portion and disposed between the firstelectromagnetic unit and the stop portion. The elastic unit is disposedinside the pen-shaped casing structure and between the first movableportion and a fixed structure that is disposed inside the pen-shapedcasing structure.

Another one of the embodiments of the instant disclosure provides amicro touch pen structure, comprising: a casing unit, a circuit unit, afirst electromagnetic unit, a pen core unit, a second electromagneticunit and an elastic unit. The casing unit includes a pen-shaped casingstructure. The circuit unit is disposed inside the pen-shaped casingstructure. The first electromagnetic unit is fixed inside the pen-shapedcasing structure and electrically connected to the circuit unit, whereinthe first electromagnetic unit includes a first hollow electromagneticbody fixed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and at least oneelectromagnetic coil wound around the first hollow electromagnetic bodyand electrically connected to the circuit unit. The pen core unit ismovably disposed inside pen-shaped casing structure, wherein the pencore unit includes a first movable portion passing through the firsthollow electromagnetic body and a second movable portion connected tothe first movable portion and partially exposed from the pen-shapedcasing structure. The second electromagnetic unit includes a secondhollowing electromagnetic body fixed inside the pen-shaped casingstructure and disposed around the first movable portion, wherein thesecond hollowing electromagnetic body is disposed between the firstelectromagnetic unit and the second movable portion. The elastic unit isdisposed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and between the firstmovable portion and a fixed structure that is disposed inside thepen-shaped casing structure, wherein the elastic unit includes at leastone first elastic element adjacent to the first movable portion and atleast one second elastic element far away from the first movableportion, the at least one first elastic element and the at least onesecond elastic element are connected in series and between the firstmovable portion and the fixed structure, and the elastic coefficient ofthe at least one first elastic element is smaller than that of the atleast one second elastic element.

Yet another one of the embodiments of the instant disclosure provides amicro touch pen structure, comprising: a casing unit, a circuit unit, afirst electromagnetic unit, a pen core unit, a second electromagneticunit and an elastic unit. The casing unit includes a pen-shaped casingstructure. The circuit unit is disposed inside the pen-shaped casingstructure. The first electromagnetic unit is fixed inside the pen-shapedcasing structure and electrically connected to the circuit unit, whereinthe first electromagnetic unit includes a first hollow electromagneticbody fixed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and at least oneelectromagnetic coil wound around the first hollow electromagnetic bodyand electrically connected to the circuit unit. The pen core unit ismovably disposed inside pen-shaped casing structure, wherein the pencore unit includes a first movable portion passing through the firsthollow electromagnetic body, a second movable portion partially exposedfrom the pen-shaped casing structure, and a stop portion connectedbetween the first movable portion and the second movable portion. Thesecond electromagnetic unit includes a second hollowing electromagneticbody fixed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and disposed aroundthe first movable portion, wherein the second hollowing electromagneticbody is abutted against the stop portion and disposed between the firstelectromagnetic unit and the stop portion. The elastic unit is disposedinside the pen-shaped casing structure and between the first movableportion and a fixed structure that is disposed inside the pen-shapedcasing structure, wherein the elastic unit includes at least one firstelastic element adjacent to the first movable portion and at least onesecond elastic element far away from the first movable portion, the atleast one first elastic element and the at least one second elasticelement are connected in series and between the first movable portionand the fixed structure, and the elastic coefficient of the at least onefirst elastic element is smaller than that of the at least one secondelastic element.

Therefore, because the design of the pen core unit including a firstmovable portion passing through the first hollow electromagnetic body, asecond movable portion partially exposed from the pen-shaped casingstructure, and a stop portion connected between the first movableportion and the second movable portion, the second hollowingelectromagnetic body can be abutted against the stop portion forrestricting the position of the second hollowing electromagnetic body.

To further understand the techniques, means and effects of the instantdisclosure applied for achieving the prescribed objectives, thefollowing detailed descriptions and appended drawings are herebyreferred, such that, through which, the purposes, features and aspectsof the instant disclosure can be thoroughly and concretely appreciated.However, the appended drawings are provided solely for reference andillustration, without any intention to limit the instant disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional, schematic view of the micro touch penstructure according to the first embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded, schematic view of the micro touch penstructure according to the first embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows an assembled, schematic view of the micro touch penstructure according to the first embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a partial, cross-sectional, enlarged view taken along thesection line A-A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional, schematic view of the micro touch penstructure according to the second embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional, schematic view of the micro touch penstructure according to the third embodiment of the instant disclosure;and

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional, schematic view of the micro touch penstructure according to the fourth embodiment of the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the instant disclosureprovides a micro touch pen (stylus pen) structure S, comprising: acasing unit 1, a circuit unit 2, a first electromagnetic unit 3, a pencore unit 4, a second electromagnetic unit 5 and an elastic unit 6.

First, the casing unit 1 includes a pen-shaped casing structure 10, andthe circuit unit 2 is disposed inside the pen-shaped casing structure10. For example, the circuit unit 2 includes at least one capacitor 20electrically connected to the circuit unit 2, but it is merely anexample and is not meant to limit the instant disclosure.

Moreover, the first electromagnetic unit 3 is fixed inside thepen-shaped casing structure 10 and electrically connected to the circuitunit 2 through two conductive lines W. The first electromagnetic unit 3includes a first hollow electromagnetic body 30 fixed inside thepen-shaped casing structure 10 and at least one electromagnetic coil 31wound around (disposed around or surroundingly disposed on) the firsthollow electromagnetic body 30 and electrically connected to the circuitunit 2 through the two conductive lines W, and the first hollowelectromagnetic body 30 has a through hole 300. In addition, the pencore unit 4 is movably disposed inside pen-shaped casing structure 10,and the pen core unit 4 includes a first movable portion 41 passingthrough the through hole 300 of the first hollow electromagnetic body30, a second movable portion 42 partially exposed from (or exposedoutside) the pen-shaped casing structure 10, and a stop portion 43 (aretaining ring or a stopper) connected between the first movable portion41 and the second movable portion 42. More precisely, the third diameterd3 of the stop portion 43 is larger than the first diameter d1 of thefirst movable portion 41 and the second diameter d2 of the secondmovable portion 42. For example, the first movable portion 41, the stopportion 43 and the second movable portion 42 are sequentially connectedwith each other to form a single movable pen core structure, and thesingle movable pen core structure may be integrally (integratedly) madefrom non-permeability stainless steel materials.

Furthermore, the second electromagnetic unit 5 includes a secondhollowing electromagnetic body 50 fixed inside the pen-shaped casingstructure 10 and disposed around the first movable portion 41, and thesecond hollowing electromagnetic body 50 is abutted against the stopportion 43 and disposed between the first electromagnetic unit 3 and thestop portion 43. More precisely, the first hollow electromagnetic body30 is larger than the second hollow electromagnetic body 50, and thefourth diameter d4 of the second hollow electromagnetic body 50 islarger than the third diameter d3 of the stop portion 43 for preventingthe magnetic fields generated by the second hollow electromagnetic body50 from being interfered by the stop portion 43. For example, the secondhollow electromagnetic body 50 may be made of high permeabilitymaterials (such as any amorphous materials) by sintering. The secondhollow electromagnetic body 50 also may be formed as a thin flexiblemagnet by mixing magnetic powders and soft gel (glue), thus it is easyto place the second hollow electromagnetic body 50 around the firstmovable portion 41.

Besides, the elastic unit 6 is disposed inside the pen-shaped casingstructure 10 and between the first movable portion 41 and a fixedstructure 7 that is disposed inside the pen-shaped casing structure 10.More precisely, the elastic unit 6 includes at least one elastic element60 (such as a compression spring or an elastic piece) connected betweenthe first movable portion 41 and the fixed structure 7. The at least oneelastic element 60 has a first end 601 and a second end 602 opposite tothe first end 601, the first end 601 of the at least one elastic element60 is connected to the first movable portion 41, and the second end 602of the at least one elastic element 60 is connected to the fixedstructure 7. In addition, the first movable portion 41 has a stopstructure 410 disposed between the first electromagnetic unit 3 and theelastic unit 6. The stop structure 410 is detachably disposed on an endportion 4100 of the first movable portion 41, and the fifth diameter d5of the stop structure 410 is larger than the hole diameter (not labeled)of the through hole 300 of first hollow electromagnetic body 30, forpreventing the first movable portion 41 of pen core unit 4 from beingseparated from the through hole 300 of first hollow electromagnetic body30.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, it is worth mentioning that the microtouch pen structure S further includes a plastic pen head cap 420 thatis a replaceable pen head cap disposed on the second movable portion 42for covering the exposed portion of the second movable portion 42, thusthe aspect of the micro touch pen structure S is enhanced and the usercan use the plastic pen head cap 420 to directly touch a handwrittenboard. More precisely, the second movable portion 42 includes areplaceable pen head cap (such as the plastic pen head cap 420)partially exposed from the pen-shaped casing structure 10 and abuttedagainst the stop portion 43. The replaceable pen head cap 420 has anexposed annular concave portion 4200 disposed on the outer surface ofthe replaceable pen head cap 420. The replaceable pen head cap 420 hasat least two first retaining portions 4201 disposed on the inner surfaceof the replaceable pen head cap 420, and the second movable portion 42has at least two second retaining portions 421 respectively mated withthe at least two first retaining portions 4201. Hence, it is easy forthe user to replace the replaceable pen head cap 420 due to the designof respectively mating the at least two first retaining portions 4201with the at least two second retaining portions 421.

Second Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 5, the second embodiment of the instant disclosureprovides a micro touch pen structure S, comprising: a casing unit 1, acircuit unit 2, a first electromagnetic unit 3, a pen core unit 4, asecond electromagnetic unit 5 and an elastic unit 6. Comparing FIG. 5with FIG. 1, the difference between the second embodiment and the firstembodiment is as follows: in the second embodiment, the first movableportion 41 has an annular concave area 411 adjacent to the stop portion43, and the second hollow electromagnetic body 50 is surroundinglydisposed on the annular concave area 411 of the first movable portion41. More precisely, because the first diameter d1 of the first movableportion 41 is smaller than the second diameter d2 of the second movableportion 42, the fourth diameter d4 of the second hollow electromagneticbody 50 can be reduced for decreasing the thickness of the second hollowelectromagnetic body 50.

Third Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 6, the third embodiment of the instant disclosureprovides a micro touch pen structure S, comprising: a casing unit 1, acircuit unit 2, a first electromagnetic unit 3, a pen core unit 4, asecond electromagnetic unit 5 and an elastic unit 6. Comparing FIG. 6with FIG. 1, the difference between the third embodiment and the firstembodiment is as follows: in the third embodiment, the pen core unit 4includes a first movable portion 41 passing through the first hollowelectromagnetic body 30 and a second movable portion 42 connected to thefirst movable portion 41 and partially exposed from the pen-shapedcasing structure 10. The second hollowing electromagnetic body 50 of thesecond electromagnetic unit 5 is disposed between the firstelectromagnetic unit 3 and the second movable portion 42. The elasticunit 6 includes at least one first elastic element 61 adjacent to thefirst movable portion 41 and at least one second elastic element 62 faraway from the first movable portion 41. The at least one first elasticelement 61 and the at least one second elastic element 62 are connectedin series and between the first movable portion 41 and the fixedstructure 7, and the elastic coefficient of the at least one firstelastic element 61 is smaller than that of the at least one secondelastic element 62.

More precisely, the at least one first elastic element 61 has a firstend 611 and a second end 612 opposite to each other, and the at leastone second elastic element 62 has a first end 621 and a second end 622opposite to each other. The first end 611 of the at least one firstelastic element 61 is connected to the first movable portion 41, thesecond end 612 of the at least one first elastic element 61 and thefirst end 621 of the at least one second elastic element 62 areconnected with each other, and the second end 622 of the at least onesecond elastic element 62 is connected to the fixed structure 7.

Whereby, the micro touch pen structure S of the third embodiment canprovide a two-step press feeling for the user due to the design ofconnecting the at least one first elastic element 61 and the least onesecond elastic element 62. In other words, when the pen core unit 4 ispressed within the range of a predetermined pressure, only the at leastone first elastic element 61 is compressed. When the pen core unit 4 ispressed over the range of a predetermined pressure, both the at leastone first elastic element 61 and the least one second elastic element 62are sequentially or concurrently compressed.

Fourth Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 7, the fourth embodiment of the instant disclosureprovides a micro touch pen structure S, comprising: a casing unit 1, acircuit unit 2, a first electromagnetic unit 3, a pen core unit 4, asecond electromagnetic unit 5 and an elastic unit 6. Comparing FIG. 7with FIG. 5, the difference between the fourth embodiment and the thirdembodiment is as follows: in the fourth embodiment, the pen core unit 4includes a first movable portion 41 passing through the first hollowelectromagnetic body 30, a second movable portion 42 partially exposedfrom the pen-shaped casing structure 10, and a stop portion 43 connectedbetween the first movable portion 41 and the second movable portion 42.

In conclusion, because the design of the pen core unit 4 including afirst movable portion 41 passing through the first hollowelectromagnetic body 30, a second movable portion 42 partially exposedfrom the pen-shaped casing structure 10, and a stop portion 43 connectedbetween the first movable portion 41 and the second movable portion 42,the second hollowing electromagnetic body 50 can be abutted against thestop portion 43 for restricting the position of the second hollowingelectromagnetic body 50.

The above-mentioned descriptions merely represent the preferredembodiments of the instant disclosure, without any intention or abilityto limit the scope of the instant disclosure which is fully describedonly within the following claims. Various equivalent changes,alterations or modifications based on the claims of instant disclosureare all, consequently, viewed as being embraced by the scope of theinstant disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A stylus pen, comprising: an elongatedcase; circuitry; an electromagnetic unit fixed inside the case andelectrically connected to the circuitry, wherein the electromagneticunit includes a first hollow body fixed inside the case and at least oneelectromagnetic coil wound around the first hollow body and electricallyconnected to the circuitry; a pen core movably disposed inside the case,wherein the pen core includes a movable portion passing through thefirst hollow body and partially exposed from the case; and a magneticunit including a second hollow body having a right circular hollowcylinder shape and made of material having magnetic permeability,wherein the magnetic unit is fixed to the pen core and moves while thepen core moves, wherein the pen core further includes a stop portionfixed to the magnetic unit, and wherein the stop portion abuts a planarsurface of the second hollow body, the stop portion and the magneticunit moving together when a pressure is applied to the movable portionof the pen core.
 2. The stylus pen according to claim 1 wherein thediameter of the stop portion is larger than a portion of the pen corethat is disposed within the through hole of the second hollow body. 3.The stylus pen according to claim 1 wherein the stop portion is directlycoupled to the second hollow body.
 4. The stylus pen according to claim1 wherein the diameter of the stop portion is smaller than an outerdiameter of the second hollow body.
 5. The stylus pen according to claim1, further including: a fixed structure disposed inside the case andfixed with the case; and an elastic structure disposed inside the casebetween the pen core and the fixed structure, wherein the elasticstructure includes at least one first elastic element disposed adjacentto the pen core and at least one second elastic element disposed awayfrom the pen core, and the at least one first elastic element and the atleast one second elastic element are connected in series and aredisposed between the pen core and the fixed structure.
 6. The stylus penaccording to claim 5 wherein a first end of the at least one secondelastic element is connected to the at least one first elastic elementand a second end of the at least one second elastic element is connectedto the fixed structure.
 7. The stylus pen according to claim 6 whereinan elastic coefficient of the at least one first elastic element isdifferent from an elastic coefficient of the at least one second elasticelement.
 8. The stylus pen according to claim 7 wherein the elasticcoefficient of the at least one first elastic element is smaller thanthe elastic coefficient of the at least one second elastic element.